09-12-2015

EU Commission takes first steps to broaden access to online content

The proposed regulation on the cross-border portability of online content services addresses the current restrictions in order to allow EU residents to travel with the digital content they have purchased or subscribed to at home

The EU Commission on Wednesday presented a proposal to allow Europeans to travel with their online content as well as an action plan to modernise EU copyright rules, it said in a press statement.

At present, Europeans travelling within the EU may be cut off from online services providing films, sports broadcasts, music, e-books or games that they have paid for in their home country. The proposed regulation on the cross-border portability of online content services addresses these restrictions in order to allow EU residents to travel with the digital content they have purchased or subscribed to at home, the Commission said.

Cross-border portability, a new EU right for consumers, is expected by the Commission to be a reality in 2017, the same year as the end of roaming charges in the EU. Since it is a proposal for a regulation, once adopted it will be directly applicable in all 28 EU Member States, the Commission reminded.

In addition, the Commission outlined its vision of a modern EU copyright framework. This "political preview" will be translated into legislative proposals and policy initiatives in the next six months, taking into account all inputs from several public consultations, it announced.

“The regulation proposed today is the first step of an ambitious reform,” the EU Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, Günther Oettinger, said. “Our action plan gives the direction for further reform in spring next year: we want a copyright environment that is stimulating, fair, rewards investment in creativity and makes it easier for Europeans to access and use content legally.” See also our cepPolicyBrief on the Digital Single Market Strategy Pillar 1, Pillar 2 and Pillar 3.